Reacting- eot art steam-engine



.PATENTED MAR. 12, 1845.

J.'BLAGK. REAGTING RDTARY STEAM ENGINE.

JAMES BLACK, OF WILLIAMSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA.

anno'rrne scram: STEAM-ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent No, 3,943, dated March 12, 18 45.

To all whom it may concern Beitknown that I, JAMES BLACK, of lVilliamsport, in the county of Lycoming and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Manner of Constructing Rotary Steam Engines, which I denominate the Rotary Hydraulic Steam-Engine; and I do here by declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof.

My rotary steam engine 1s of that kind which is usually denominated as reaction such water entering said arms in the direction of the radii of the circle of rotation, and consequently at right angles, or nearly at right angles to the current of effluent steam. To efl'ect this I place the axis of my rotary engine vertically and extend. the arms for the passage of steam horizontally, curving them at their outer ends so that their steam issues shall stand in the direction above indicated. Steam is to be admitted into the revolving axis, at its lower end, and is to flow thence through the steam arms. The steam arms are to revolve within a circular case or drum, standing horizontally, and there is a depression toward the center part of this drum which is to constitute a reservoir of water, or other fluid, from which the current is to be supplied that is to pass into each of the steam arms, and into which it is to return after it has performed its oflice. To carry this water, or other fluid, to its destined point I use a second series of tubes the outer ends of which enter thesteam arms as above stated, while their inner ends are bent down so as to dip into the above named reservoirs; the result of this arrangement is that each of these water tubes operates, when the steam arms are set in motion, as a centrifugal pump, ralsmg a portion of water from the reservoir, and delivering it into its appropriate steam arm.

The arrangement of the respective parts,

as I have essayed them, is shownin the ac-.

companying drawings in which- Figure 1, is a perspective view of the machine, and Fig. 2, a vertical section through its center. In the former of these figures the upper plate of the case or drum is omitted, for the purpose of showing the parts within it. Fig. 3, is a separate view of two compound arms. I

A, is the basis upon which the machine rests.

B, B, are two columns supporting a cross head C, in which the upper end of the vertical shaft D, of the engine runs.

E, is the step of the lower end of the shaft D; this lower end and step are made to fit steam tight by being ground together.

6, b, are two steam arms thatenter the shaft D, and receive theirsupply of steam through the tubular steam way a, (Z, that leads to a suitable boiler.

F, is a whirl by which the power of the engine may be communicated to any machinery that it is required to drive.

G, is the cylindrical case, or drum within which the arms revolve.

f, is the reservoir for water, oil, or other fluid; the bottom 6, c, of the case, or drum should have an inclination toward the res- The hydraulic pipes that are to carry the fluid from the reservoir to the outer ends of the steam arms are shown at 0, 0; these tubes at their ends 0, dip into the fluid contained in the reservoir f, and their ends c, enter the steam arms Z), Z).

In Figs. 1, and 3, the steam arms are represented as having their discharge orifices b circular; and although in this form there is considerable advantage derived from theemployment of the hydraulic tubes, this is much increased by flattening the discharge orifices of the steam arms, and extending them in length, while their area may remain the same as when circular. This form of orifice is shown in Fig. 4, where b is one ofthe steam orifices formed in the manner Which I prefer, after repeated trials.

H, Fig. 2, is a tube by which the discharged steam may be carried off from the interior of the drum.

The effect of bringing the steam into contact with the water, (or other liquid used as a substitute therefor,) is to increase the reactive power of the discharge much above that which results from the emission of steam alone through the same orifice. The water thus used does not effect the condensation oi the steam to any extent after the instrument has been a few minutes in operation, as it becomes rapidly heated, and until this takes place the full eflfect of the machine is not obtained; the same water flowing back into the. reservoir, and being continuously used. The power expended in raising the water is very small, it being elevated tothe height of a few inches only, while the advantage produced by it greatly transcends any loss from this cause.

Having thus fully described the manner in which I construct my improved rotary hydraulic steam engine, and shown the operation thereof, what I claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combining with each of the steam arms a tube one end of which shall dip into a reservoir, like that marked f, which is to contain a portion of water or other fluid, which fluid, in its heated state, is to be carried into the steam tube, by the centrifugal action of the engine, and is to enter said steam tube, near the orifice for the emission of steam, and at right angles, or nearly so, to the course of the effluent steam; said water, or other fluid, being allowed to flow back into the reservoir, so that it may be.

continuously used, for the purpose, and in the manner, herein set forth.

I do not claim the introducing of a jet of cold water into the revolving arms for the purpose of condensing the steam, as was proposed in a rotary engine known as Sadlers; the water or other fluid used by me being, as hereinbefore stated, to be employed in its heated state, and for a purpose altogether different from that of condensation.

JABTES BLACK.

Vithesses THos P. JoNEs, VVM. BISHOP. 

